FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Last year I became Pennsylvania’s first statewide elected official to advocate for regulating and taxing marijuana.

An overwhelming majority of Americans now favor legalization, and I would hate to see PA lose out on a revenue stream and the social benefits that would be provided by moving away from the “Reefer Madness” mindset.

Democratic state Senator Anthony Williams has introducedSenate Resolution 258to amend the federal Controlled Substances Act so that marijuana is no longer classified as a Schedule I controlled substance.

If passed, this resolution would urge Congress to take action to amend federal law so that states could regulate cannabis absent undue federal interference.

Out of 12 individuals on a state Senate committee, 11 have approved the resolution to urge Congress to reevaluate marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I controlled substance and recognize marijuana’s medical purposes.